An All-weather Driving Guide for Nurse Travelers
25 safe driving tips, for all kinds of weather
By Megan Krischke, contributor
One of the biggest draws of working travel nursing jobs is the opportunity to explore parts of the country you’ve never visited before. Even going to and from your destination can lead to some unforgettable road trips!
But driving in another part of the country often means driving in unfamiliar weather conditions. This can be disconcerting at times, or even dangerous.
Never fear!
TravelNursing.com has pulled together the top safe driving tips to help nurse travelers avoid or lessen the risk from common weather hazards across the country. Just use our quick reference guide to help you stay safe wherever your adventures take you.
STEP 1: Planning your road trip
• Have your car serviced before you leave on a long trip.
• Always let someone know your route and when you expect to arrive and/or have set check-in times as you travel.
• Keep a car phone charger so you can stay in touch.
• Don’t let your gas tank fall below one-quarter (1/4) full.
• Make sure your headlights and windows are clean for visibility.
• Have sunglasses available for morning and evening sun, and glare off snow.
• Plan sufficient rest periods to avoid driving when drowsy.
STEP 2: Stocking your emergency road kit
Every nurse traveler should be prepared—especially on long trips between nursing jobs, but also when commuting in certain weather conditions. Experts suggest keeping the following emergency supplies in your vehicle:
•Water
• High protein, nonperishable snacks
• Road atlas (in case your phone’s GPS isn’t working)
• First aid kit
• Small shovel
• Warm blanket
• Emergency flares and reflective signs
• Ice scraper/snow brush
• A bag of cat litter, sand or salt—for creating traction in icy places
• Hat and gloves
• Jumper cables, or a self-contained jump starter
• Flashlight and batteries
• Duct tape
• Emergency tool kit
• Candle and matches
STEP 3: Adjusting for the weather
5 tips for driving in fog
• As in any adverse driving conditions, the first step is to slow down.
• Use your low beam headlights; high beams can actually further reduce visibility.
• Beware of patchy fog—you might be able to see some distance one minute and absolutely nothing the next. (That means that other cars can’t see you, either.)
• If you cannot see, pull safely to the side of the road and wait for the fog to pass.
• Don’t follow other cars too closely and keep an eye on your rearview mirror for cars coming upon you suddenly.
5 tips for driving in snow and ice
1. Always keep all windows and mirrors clear.
2. Accelerate and decelerate slowly, drive slowly, and don’t stop if you can avoid it. Reduce speed when approaching curves and intersections.
3. Double the normal following distance behind other cars, allowing at least 8 to 10 seconds.
4. Watch out for other drivers; even if you have a green light, wait for cross traffic to come to a complete stop before proceeding.
5. Don’t guess how deep the snow is or be fooled by “clear roads”; snow drifts and black ice often catch drivers by surprise. Use extreme caution.
(For blizzard conditions accompanied by wind, see additional precautions below.)
5 tips for driving in the rain
1. Roads are slickest when it first begins to rain and dust hasn’t yet been washed off the road.
2. Adjust for reduced visibility and slippery roads by adding more distance between yourself and other vehicles; allow yourself more time to slow down and stop.
3. If you sense that you have lost traction and are hydroplaning, take your foot off the accelerator and don’t press the brakes until you sense you have regained some traction.
4. Check the depth of your tire tread and make sure your tires are fully inflated. Good brakes and windshield wipers are also critical in rainy conditions, so keep current on all maintenance.
5. Obey all warning signs and road closures; drivers can get stuck in deep water or swept away in flash floods in both urban and rural areas.
5 tips for driving in wind, tornadoes and severe storms
The Great Plains states are famous for their wind and tornadoes, and the Southeast for its hurricanes, but many regions of the country can experience this kind of weather. The best thing is to stay off the road until conditions are safe, whenever possible.
1. Large vehicles and those pulling trailers are especially susceptible to being affected by strong winds.
2. Be aware of gusty winds that can suddenly jerk the car, and keep both hands firmly on the wheel.
3. Tune to a local weather station if the sky seems threatening; learn where evacuation routes and weather shelters are located, just in case.
4. If caught in a storm, turn on your headlights and find a safe place off the roadway to park, away from trees, power lines and water ways.
5. If there is a tornado warning, ideally drive to a building, go inside and stay on the lowest level in a room without windows.
NOTE: If there isn’t time, try to find somewhere distinctly lower than the roadway, get out of the car, lie on the ground covering your head with your hands. Alternately, stay in the car with your seatbelt on and try to cover yourself with a blanket, keeping your head lower than the windows and covering your head with your hands.
5 tips for driving in high heat conditions
1. Continually check your warning lights and gauges—especially the temperature gauge.
2. If your temperature gauge is nearing the red (hot) zone, turn off your A/C and turn on the heater to its highest and hottest setting to pull heat away from the engine. Seek out a mechanic immediately.
3, If your gauge enters the red zone, immediately pull out of traffic and turn off the engine. Wait 20 minutes. Start up the engine—if the temperature light comes on, go directly to a mechanic.
4. NEVER pour water over a hot radiator or engine or try to remove the radiator cap when the car is hot. You MUST wait for it to cool.
5. Finally, never leave children or animals in a car on a warm day. A mild 80-degree outdoor temperature can quickly become 140+ degrees inside a car.
Sources: AAA (The Auto Club), American Red Cross, driversed.com, kidshealth.com.
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